Cut the chicken breast into small cubes about 1" square. Heat pan or wok, with about 2 seconds spray of cooking spray oil. Put in chicken, and baby carrots, turn occasionally. When chicken looks near cooked add the remaining vegetables, toss. Mix the pepper paste with about 3/4 cup of water until it's dissolved. Add soy sauce to the water/pepper paste mix. Pour into pan, make sure heat is high. Continue to toss as vegetables become slightly tender. Add the rice to the mix, toss. Add water if it dries, 1/4 cup at a time. When sauce is mostly evaporated and resembles a stir-fry consistency, sprinkle the sugar and black pepper, and toss lightly. Serve. Note that you can freely substitute other vegetables or meats in this dish.

LOVE IS BLISS features two hot, erotic novellas by award-winning Leigh Ellwood. Both stories are also available separately.

SHEER BLISS

Living in Bliss, New Jersey has it perks, unless you're a shifter looking for love or a human looking for peace and quiet. Not only does Calla Savitch, owner of Shear Bliss salon, have to deal with warring panthers and werewolves with overlapping appointments, she's fed up with their constant matchmaking attempts. The last thing she wants especially is a hook-up with the one shifter who broke her heart years ago. Handsome were-panther Caleb Houlihan still nurses the guilt of Calla's heartbreak, but when presented with a second chance to woo her he is reluctant. Calla may forgive his youthful indiscretions, but when she discovers his aunt's true motive for wanting them together, will she send him packing?

PURE BLISS

Betrothed for years to Malcolm Weaver, Trisha Houlihan has grown tired of archaic panther shifters ways and wants to live on her own terms. A chance meeting with a hot stranger serves to spark her rebellion, but backfires when she discovers she's fooling around with her intended. Malcolm isn't keen on old traditions, either, but there's something about Trisha that inspires him to make an exception. Trisha is certainly exceptional, unlike other she-panthers, and he is convinced they were meant to be, regardless of the circumstances that brought them together. Trisha wants to resist, but her growing attraction to Malcolm proves problematic. Can these two find a balance between tradition and passion and create a happily ever after?